People

CHAIRMAN

Jon Richards studied mathematics before embarking on a life long career in IT. He began as a programmer with GEC, had early business success in a computer systems house, became the CEO of a public company and later chaired a UK government body. Jon now holds a number of chairmanships in businesses in the testing and travel sectors. This is his third successful venture with the TestPlant chief executive. Jon lives in Hampshire with his family and a decent golf handicap.

Chief Executive OffIcer

George read business and economics at the University of Edinburgh still retaining a link there through his role as an entrepreneur in residence. George worked in manufacturing for Ford in Dagenham before moving to the telecommunication’s industry. He has raised money to build businesses in the UK, USA and Hong Kong and managed their sale and integration into major telcos. At home in London, George is an ageing semi-pro racing driver with a gardening habit.

Chief Financial Officer

Chris Verdin is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in London. He then held treasury and risk management roles in major banks before his move into the technology sector. In a number of software and services businesses he has played pivotal roles in fund raising, MBOs, M&A activities and patent litigation. Chris enjoys life in London with his young family and boasts of his culinary abilities.

Chief Technology Officer

Antony studied computer engineering at the University of South Wales, Australia. He worked as a developer in Sydney before joining IBM Research in New York. Moving to London, Antony joined mobile operating system builder Symbian, moving from system architecture to eventually become a VP and member of the executive team. More recently he held the position of CTO with a major US on-line entertainment company. Australian born Antony lives in London with his Swiss wife and culturally confused daughters.

President, Americas

Richard Ward is an engineering graduate from Bath University. In 2009, he joined TestPlant and has since been promoted through the ranks, consistently over-achieving at every level. He led TestPlant’s expansion into the US defense and security industry sectors. He was appointed as Sales Director in early 2011 and began to build a sales team in the UK, the USA and more recently in Asia. He now lives in San Francisco, nursing a curious love of old Land Rovers.

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

David Harrison is an engineering graduate with a distinguished career in the software testing industry. He was the EMEA General Manager of Mercury Interactive, now part of HP. He led the European business through a period of rapid growth before it’s sale to HP for $4.6 billion. As a board member, David brings highly relevant industry experience and contacts. David lives in Surrey and aspires to reach the chairman’s golf handicap.

Observer

Paul Thomas is a physics graduate and a chartered accountant, with over 25 years of private equity experience including 19 with ECI, the London based mid-market buy-out house. He is currently Managing Director of Pi Capital, a unique investor network of some of the UK’s most successful and influential business leaders. Paul is also a Managing Partner of Seraphim Capital, a £30million venture capital fund that helped to establish TestPlant in 2008.

Chief Development Officer

Jonathan Gillaspie was in 2002 a co-inventor of eggPlant. He is a computer scientist and career developer with a degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Jonathan had previously designed and developed systems in media and entertainment applications. His frustration with traditional manual testing encouraged him to build eggPlant along entirely innovative lines. He lives in his home state of Colorado with his children and wife, a sweetheart from his alma mater.

VP, Alliances

Colin is an enormously experienced senior executive with a background in software, media and mobile. His early career was in the British Army, where he was awarded for gallantry. Leaving after 11 years, Colin completed an MBA then worked at Motorola, 3 and 02. Colin then led the turn-around of a small software company and has spent last eight years working for PE portfolio companies.Living in Berkshire with a young family, weekends are a curious mix of muddy trainers, drying wetsuits, scales and arpeggios.

Technology Advisory Board

John Varney currently runs his own consultancy, Maximum Clarity, supporting public and private sector bodies with a wide range of technology issues. His previous roles include global CTO for the BBC and Director of Technology for Granada plc. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Television Society. When he has some time, his passions are photography, gardening and the history of Victorian Britain.

Technology Advisory Board

Paul Gerrard is a consultant, teacher, author, webmaster, programmer, tester, conference speaker, rowing coach and publisher. He was the founding chair of the British Computer Society Information Systems Examination Board (BCS ISEB) of the Software Testing certification board. Educated at the universities of Oxford and Imperial College London, he is a Principal of Gerrard Consulting Limited and is the host of the UK Test Management Forum.

Technology Advisory Board

Tom Blackie leads the mobile division at RealVNC, including mobile device management and integration of smartphones with in-vehicle systems. Previously Tom held executive positions in a number of technology companies. He was Head of Operations at the Olivetti and Oracle Research Laboratory, Founder and VP Engineering at Adaptive Broadband, Managing Director of Audentify and COO at Ubisense. Tom graduated in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Napier University Edinburgh and holds an MBA from Ashridge Business School.

Technology Advisory Board

Steve Broughton has spent his career in IT sales and sales management selling both hardware and software. He managed the UK arm of Business Objects from a small subsidiary through to the entity that was a part of Europe’s 4th largest software company. Latterly he managed the Oracle UK Strategic Alliance team. His passion for rock music is matched only by his vain attempts to reduce his handicap.

Technology Advisory Board

Werner Schmücking had a 40 year career with Siemens serving in sales, marketing, product management and development, general management and strategic planning roles. He held CEO, Chairman and board posts in Siemens’ companies in Germany, Italy, the USA and the UK. Werner was President of the German Telecom Manufacturers Association (ZVEI), and he was co-founder and VP of the German Association for IT, Telecom and New Media (BITKOM). Werner lives in Munich and plays a mean game of tennis.